Question from a reader:
I’m a first-year university student. Three weeks ago, I received a sudden phone call from a friend from high school whom I wasn’t very close to. When I answered, they said, “I’m doing a side job approved by Apple, and I need to pay 150,000 yen by this week because my boss sent the payment to me,
so I’d like to borrow some money.” I was surprised and asked my friends, and it turned out that everyone I had contact with had been told the same thing. In the end, neither I nor my friends lent any money, but today I received another LINE message asking, “Can you lend me money?” in a casual tone. After that, I received a phone call, but I ignored it, blocked the number, and deleted the conversation. According to what I heard from my friends, they are now trying to collect 660,000 yen and said that if you lend them money, they would pay back double. It seems that the previous 150,000 yen has been collected. Should I report this? I only received a request to lend money, and I really don’t know if anyone actually lent 150,000 yen. I apologize for the long message.
Introduction
When university life begins, one often encounters various relationships and new experiences. Among these, sudden contact from a high school friend can be surprising and often unexpected. However, if the content of that contact is a request for money, extra caution is necessary. The question from the reader indicates that a friend claimed to be involved in an Apple-approved side job and requested money, but there are many legal, psychological, and ethical aspects to consider in such situations.
Legal Aspects
There are several important points from a legal perspective in this case. First, it is necessary to understand the contract law regarding money lending. Under Japanese law, lending money is based on a contract, and there must be a clear agreement between the lender and the borrower. The exchanges via phone or LINE from a friend are insufficient to form a legally binding contract. Particularly, if the other party said they would “pay back double,” this is a very dangerous statement and could potentially be considered fraud. Furthermore, since such requests for money are common among friends, there may be suspicions of organized fraudulent activities. The act of disseminating false information to collect money is likely to fall under the crime of fraud (Article 246 of the Penal Code). If money is indeed being collected, reporting such actions is a societal responsibility.
Psychological Aspects
Psychological factors are also significantly involved in this situation. People often feel psychological resistance to declining requests from friends, a tendency that is particularly strong among younger individuals. The fact that the questioner was able to ignore the request from a friend is a very important psychological choice and should be appreciated from a self-defense perspective. Moreover, the relationship with the friend also has psychological implications. Although the questioner mentioned not being very close to this high school friend, the perception of them as a friend may still create hesitation or guilt about declining the request. Psychologically, this is referred to as “social pressure,” where the expectations and values of those around an individual influence their behavior.
Ethical Considerations
From an ethical standpoint, it is essential to consider how such requests for money impact friendships and social trust. Lending money can sometimes serve as a litmus test for friendship, but it is crucial to discern whether the other party is asking for a serious reason. Especially when someone claims to be involved in an Apple-approved side job, it is necessary to verify the credibility of that claim. Additionally, if fraudulent behaviors that undermine trust among young people become rampant, there is a risk of a decline in the overall ethical standards of society. Cultivating a culture where young people are excessively dependent on money can have long-term negative effects on society as a whole.
Industry Regulations and Compliance
The entertainment industry has strict regulations regarding advertising and promotions. Particularly when conducting side jobs that borrow the brand of a specific company, it is necessary to confirm whether that company is genuinely involved. Large companies like Apple conduct business only through official channels, so it is questionable whether such side jobs are truly approved. In such situations, transparency of information is required. If the friend is genuinely engaged in an Apple-approved side job, they have a responsibility to provide concrete evidence or official information. Verifying information from reliable sources is crucial when considering lending money.
Practical Advice
When faced with such a situation, it is important to consider several practical steps: 1. Verify the information: Check whether what the friend is saying is true through official sources. 2. Manage emotions: Consider how to psychologically handle the request from a friend. It is important to remain calm and make judgments without being swayed by your emotions. 3. Seek legal advice: If money is indeed being collected, it is advisable to seek legal counsel. Particularly if there are suspicions of fraud, consulting a legal expert is crucial. 4. Share information with others: Share this situation with other friends and raise awareness. Community-wide information sharing can help prevent falling victim to fraud. 5. Consider reporting: If fraudulent activity is suspected, consider reporting it to the police or consumer consultation centers.
Conclusion
Situations involving lending money require extensive consideration from legal, psychological, and ethical perspectives. Especially to protect friendships and social trust, calm judgment is necessary. Knowledge of contract law and fraud is also essential regarding money lending, and it is important to have the necessary information to protect oneself. To all readers, if you find yourself in a similar situation, I recommend handling it calmly and taking necessary actions. To uphold the ethical standards of society as a whole, it is important to be sensitive to such cases. Please feel free to share your opinions and experiences.
